Chapter Text
When she turned over in his arms for what could quite well have been the hundredth time, huffing as she slid a hand beneath her pillow, Agustín tightened the arm about his wife’s waist and dropped his lips to the back of her shoulder, kissing her there and ghosting his hand across her growing bump through her nightgown. Why she was having such a hard time with this pregnancy when she breezed her way through the first two, he had no idea, but she still had a month to go and the symptoms that had disappeared quickly with the girls were still making life difficult for her.
She snacked on and off through the day, something he suggested a couple weeks back, and the food did help take the edge off and bring her some relief, but it was always short-lived and it never took long for the nausea and light-headedness to return with a vengeance. She never complained though, naturally. Whether it was due to the fact her whole life had been spent looking out for others – first her siblings and then their hijas when they came along – he was unsure, but it was likely a contributing factor. She just pushed through everything.
She made him so proud.
“What can I do?” He murmured, kissing his way across her shoulder to her neck before he buried his nose there, breathing her in. “Whatever it is, Amor, just tell me and I’ll do it.”
“Nothing,” She nearly whispered, the swirling low in her stomach continuing. “I have tried everything I can think of, but nothing’s working. I’m starting to realize this is just something I’m going to have to deal with until this little one is here. I can put up with the dizziness, that’s not too bad, but not the nausea. I feel sick constantly, no matter what I do, and I’m so tired all the time. I’m so tired of being tired. I just want to sleep.”
Her voice trembled while she spoke, a combination of her weariness and desperation, and he felt his heart sink. So many times throughout her pregnancy, he told her that if they could swap places and he could bear it for her then he would. She chuckled every time and told him he was sweet, but what she didn’t seem to realize was that he meant that. His tendency to be clumsy meant he had enough of his own problems to deal with on the daily, that much was true, but he would bear her struggles along with his own in a heartbeat.
He would do anything for her, honestly.
“You want to sleep?” He grazed his nose against her curls, an idea coming to him.
“Mmm…” She hummed.
“I have an idea,” He confessed. “You need to come with me though.”
Moving onto her back, she looked up at him through tired eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“That I know a way to help you get some sleep,” He leaned down to brush his nose against hers, the little chuckle he elicited from her not going unnoticed by him, and when he pulled back again he ran the back of his hand lightly down her cheek. “Are you up for the walk?”
She nodded. “It might tire me out, you never know.”
He smiled and kissed her gently before they pushed back the quilt and got out of bed, the two of them sharing a look as he made his way around to her before he took her by the hand and she laced their fingers. Wordlessly then, he led her across the room and opened the door so they could step out into the hallway. Casita was dark and silent, the familia having retired to bed long ago now, but the moonlight spilling in through a window made an illuminated path for them and they padded down the upper hall together in silence.
“You know where we’re going?” He smirked when she shook her head, squeezing his hand.
“Yes.” She replied, leaning her head against his arm and smiling when he kissed her brow.
Ay, she loved him.
It took them minutes to reach the music room, his favourite room in the house and where he chose to spend most of his time while she and the others were working, and once they were inside he closed the door and dropped her hand. She watched him walk over to the piano near the window, crossing her arms as he moved the curtains aside to let the breeze into the room when he opened it. He lifted the lid of the piano then, running his fingers along the keys before he sat down on the stool and turned to her. “Ven aquí.” He said softly.
Tracing the curve of her belly with her hand, she did as she was told and made her way over to him, giggling when he took her waist in his hands and brought her to sit in his lap so that she was facing him. She wrapped her legs loosely around him, bringing her hands to the sides of his neck, and she sighed into his mouth when he caught her in a kiss. It was chaste and over in moments, but it held so much meaning and she touched her forehead to his when he pulled away. “I don’t care what Mamá says,” She breathed. “You are perfect for me.”
“I love you.” He brushed several little curls from her face, tucking them behind her ear.
“I love you too.” She mumbled, wrapping her arms around him and snuggling into his chest.
“Cierra los ojos,” He said into her hair while reaching for the piano keys. “Get some sleep.”
He wasted no time in starting to play once she’d tucked her head beneath his chin and buried her nose in his nightshirt, the love he had for her deepening when he heard her deep sigh of contentment. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep after that, minutes at the most, and as he continued playing, his chin resting atop her curls, he had only one little thought.
Mission accomplished.